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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-15-2010 - 4hORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 15, 2010 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: Renewal of Agreement with UNC Hospitals for DSS to Provide Medicaid Workers DEPARTMENT: Social Services ATTACHMENT(S): Renewal Agreement PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Coston, 245 -2800 PURPOSE: To consider renewal of the agreement for income maintenance staff at UNC Hospitals. BACKGROUND: The Department of Social Services has had an agreement with UNC Hospitals continuously since 1977 to provide Social Services staff at the hospital. These staff members, income maintenance caseworkers, allow patients to apply for Medicaid while at the hospital. The Social Services Board has reviewed this renewal agreement and recommends it be continued with one full -time staff member and part-time supervision. FINANCIAL IMPACT: UNC Hospitals will reimburse the County for the non - federal share of these positions, so there are no County costs. This amount is estimated to be $55,562 during FY 2010 -2011. This is an agreement renewal and there is no change from last year in the agreement amount. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board accept the Social Services Board recommendation and approve the agreement renewal with UNC Hospitals and authorize the Chair to sign pending approval of the Orange County FY 2010 -11 budget. 4 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA UNCH #92 COUNTY OF ORANGE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA HOSPITALS AND ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this the 1 st day of July, 2010 by and between Orange County ( "County ") by and through the Orange County Department of Social Services ( "OCDSS ") and The University of North Carolina Hospitals, ( "UNCH ") in Orange County, North Carolina. WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, the parties have agreed with each other that the County will provide certain services for The University of North Carolina Hospitals in connection with the Orange County Department of Social Services (hereinafter referred to as OCDSS), Medicaid Program; and WHEREAS, the UNCH has agreed to pay certain compensation for said service and the parties desire to execute this contract to delineate their understanding of this agreement; NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows: 1. Term. The term of this Agreement shall be from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. 2. The County agrees to the following: a. Scope of Services: The County agrees to provide UNCH the services of one full time Income Maintenance Caseworker and one part-time supervisor providing up to 15 hours of supervision a week. i. The Income Maintenance Caseworker shall receive all potential medical assistance applications originating at UNCH. Specifically, the Income Maintenance Caseworker shall perform intake and processing functions on MPW and MIC applications for Orange County and intake functions only for all other applications, consisting of the following: conducting interviews that initiate an application; obtaining signatures; obtaining documentation available at the time of interview; forwarding applications to the appropriate county for processing; meeting verification requirements, processing and data entry timeframes, and sending appropriate notices timely in all processing functions. 3 ii. The Income Maintenance Caseworker shall be assisted by UNCH staff in obtaining information and documentation required to complete the application process. The Income Maintenance Caseworker shall work cooperatively with UNCH staff and the staff of any Department of Social Services to make appropriate referrals of patients and family members with problems not related to eligibility determination. iv. The Income Maintenance Worker is an employee of the County and will be directly supervised by and accountable to OCDSS. V. The part-time Supervisor is an employee of Orange County and will provide supervision and oversight of the Income Maintenance Worker. b. The County will provide other agreed upon supportive services to UNCH without additional charge, include continuing program training of the Income Maintenance Caseworker and consultation with other counties in the catchment area about applications for pre -and post - discharge patients. C. The County will provide a monthly invoice to UNCH for the County's share of the costs for the services of the income maintenance worker and for the part-time supervisor. The county share of these positions is approximately 50 percent of the cost of salary and benefits. Salary and benefits for the income maintenance caseworker and the supervisor include: base salary according to the Orange County pay plan; FICA taxes; local government retirement; vacation, sick, petty, or other leave under approved county plan; paid holidays as observed by county; county paid insurance (health, dental, and life). 3. UNCH agrees to the following: a. Payment. UNCH will reimburse the County within fifteen (15) days of receipt of monthly billings for the following: i. The county share of the salary, benefits, and the indirect costs for both the income maintenance caseworker and the part-time supervisor. The reimbursement of the county's share of these positions is approximately 50 percent of the total cost of salary and benefits for these two positions. Salary and benefits for the income maintenance caseworker and the supervisor include: base salary according to the Orange County pay plan; FICA taxes; local government retirement; vacation, sick, petty, or other leave under approved county plan; paid holidays as observed by county; county paid insurance (health, dental, and life). 4 ii. Administrative overhead and indirect costs associated with the income maintenance worker and supervisor positions. This includes all other supportive services provided by OCDSS or Orange County. The total cost of this contract is $55,562. b. To participate in the interviewing and selection process utilized by OCDSS for the hiring of the income maintenance caseworker and supervisor covered by this agreement, in accordance with County policy and procedures. C. To provide the following supportive services to OCDSS: office space; parking space; office equipment; clerical support; and telephone service. 4. The Parties agree to the following: a. Due to the nature of this agreement and the working relationship with UNCH, it is necessary that close contact be kept with UNCH administration and certain members of the hospital medical staff. In recognition of this factor, UNCH will name a staff member to act as liaison between the OCDSS, the Income Maintenance Caseworker, the departments of UNCH and other staff personnel. b. Assignment of work to the Income Maintenance Caseworker and coordination of sick, vacation, and other leave will be the joint responsibility of the UNCH staff member liaison and the OCDSS supervisor. c. If at any time UNCH determines that the Income Maintenance Caseworker's or Supervisor's performance or professional interactions are inadequate or inappropriate, UNCH may request that OCDSS initiate appropriate action to correct that employee's deficiencies. Any disciplinary action taken shall be in compliance with the Orange County Personnel ordinance and the State Personnel Act. Upon request UNCH shall provide sufficient documentation to support any such action. d. To abide by the conditions set forth in attached Business Associate Agreement, which is attached hereto and incorporated by reference. 5. Termination. This Agreement or its renewals may be terminated at any time without penalty by either party provided that written notice of such termination is furnished to the other party at least 60 days prior to termination. In the event of such termination any payment shall be prorated to the date of termination. 6. Indemnity. UNCH agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the County from all loss, liability, claims or expense, including attorney's fees, arising out of or related to the Agreement and arising from bodily injury including death or property damage to any person or persons caused in whole or in part by the negligence or misconduct of the UNCH except to the extent same are caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the County. It is the intent of this provision to require the UNCH to indemnify the County to the fullest extent permitted under North Carolina law. 7. Amendments or Modification. This Agreement shall not be altered, amended or modified, except by an agreement in writing executed by the duly authorized officials of both parties. 8. Subcontract or Assignment. The County shall not sub - contract out any of the services provided for in this Agreement or make any assignment of this Agreement (including rights to payments) without the prior written consent of the UNCH. 9. Relationship of the Parties. The County is an independent contractor. Neither the County nor any employee of the County shall be deemed to be an officer, employee or agent of UNCH. OCDSS personnel shall not be employees of, or have any contractual relationship with the UNCH. 10. Intent to be Bound. The parties have read this Agreement, including the Business Associates Agreement attached, and agree to be bound by all of its terms, and further agree that the documents constitute the complete and exclusive statement of the Agreement between the parties. 16. Entire Understanding. The Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties and shall not be altered, amended or modified, except by an agreement in writing executed by the duly authorized officials of both parties. 17. Governing Law. The laws of North Carolina shall govern the validity and interpretation of the provisions, terms and conditions of this Agreement. 18. Notices. Any notice required by this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested to the following: Orange County Department of Social Services UNCH Attention: Director Contact Person P.O. Box 8181 Address Hillsborough, NC 27278 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this contract to be signed by its duly authorized officials. FOR AND ON BEHALF OF: FOR AND ON BEHALF OF: ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA HOSPITALS Valerie P. Foushee Chair, Orange County Board of Commissioners DATE: Attest: Clerk of the Orange County Board of Commissioners Executive Director, The University of North Carolina Hospitals DATE: 'This instrument has been approved as to technical content. Nancy Coston, Social Services Director Date This instrument has been pre- audited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act. Clarence Grier, Director Orange County Financial Services Director This instrument has been approved as to form and legal sufficiency. Date Annette M. Moore, Staff Attorney Date Office of the County Attorney